Shooting victim's brother speaks about attempted robbery, shooting

Victim recovering at UC Medical Center

The family of the store clerk who was shot during a Saturday night robbery spoke about the incident Sunday. The clerk’s brother, Morton Combs, said his brother is very peaceful, but Saturday he fought back because his life was in danger.

Combs said one of the robbers stuck a gun in Grayson Matthews' face while the other robber demanded money and jumped over the counter.

"When the guy jumped over and he took his eyes off my brother, that was his chance to defend himself and he come over the counter and he said he was pretty sure he shot them in the face or cheek," Combs said.

Detectives said the robbers exchanged gunfire with 53-year-old Matthews and shot him in the side.

Police said the robbers ran away after the incident, but shortly after the shooting a man arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators said they are determining if the man is connected to the robbery.

Combs said a fight, much less a shootout, was the last thing Matthews wanted.

"One time, was one time too many but you can't let things dictate your livelihood you have to do what you do," Combs said.

Combs owns the store and said this is not the first time the store has been robbed.

"Please don't do it no more,” Combs said. “My family's been hurt and we've hurt a lot of people that got hurt in the process of these robberies, they don't realize what they're doing, they don't realize the pain that they're causing in every direction."

Combs said Matthews is recovering at UC Medical Center.

The attempted robbery has the neighborhood on edge as well.

"It scares me a lot because if something happens like my kids and I are just right here, and if something happened they watched me where I live and stuff like it's just so close in range," neighbor Elizabeth Feagle said.

Combs said the store has been open for eight years and his family will not be intimidated into moving somewhere else.

Authorities said the robbery is under investigation. The condition of that possible suspect is still unknown at this time.